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China-India relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China and India start to pull troops back from Pangong Lake border hotspot

  • Forces withdrawn in ‘orderly manner’ after an eight-month stand-off, Chinese authorities say
  • Pullback comes after New Delhi and Washington agree to strengthen Quad framework

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The Pangong Lake area is a hotspot between India and China. Photo: AP
Liu Zhenin Beijing
China and India began to disengage their troops from a key hotspot on their disputed border on Wednesday.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said forces that had been involved in an eight-month stand-off on the banks of Pangong Lake started to carry out disengagement “simultaneously” in a “planned, orderly manner”.

Wu said the move was to implement the consensus agreed during the ninth round of talks between military commanders on January 24.

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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin confirmed the start of the disengagement and urged the Indian side to keep its word.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (bottom) in front of then US Vice-President Joe Biden (left) during a joint session of the US Congress in 2016. Biden made his first phone call as US president to Modi on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (bottom) in front of then US Vice-President Joe Biden (left) during a joint session of the US Congress in 2016. Biden made his first phone call as US president to Modi on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
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“We hope that the Indian side and the Chinese side will act in the same direction, strictly implement the consensus reached by both sides and ensure the smooth implementation of the disengagement process,” Wang said.

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